Container construction and method and apparatus for making the same



Feb. 4, 1969 w. c. BECKER ET AL 3,425,324

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION ANDMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME Original Filed Oct. 6, 1965 INVENTORS 70 WILLIAM c. BECKER ROBERT L. BOEGERSHAUSEN r R r I BY 6 0 66 62 67 6/ 68 63 THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,425,324 CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME William C. Becker and Robert L. Boegershausen, Henrrco County, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Original application Oct. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 493,406, now Patent No. 3,325,077, dated June 13, 1967. Divided and this application Apr. 19, 1967, Ser. No. 660,534 U.S. Cl. 93-36.01 12 Claims Int. Cl. 1331b 11/60, 11/74 This is a division of application Ser. No. 493,406, filed Oct. 6, 1965, now Patent No. 3,325,077, issued June 13, 1967.

This invention relates to an improved container construction as well as to an improved method and apparatus for making such a container construction or the like.

It is well known that apparatus has been provided for forming a bag-like liner around a substantially rectangular mandrel so that the bag-like liner has one end thereof sealed closed at the end of the mandrel. Thereafter, the apparatus folds a cardboard structure around the liner on the mandrel so that the cardboard structure forms a complete container around the liner except at the opened end thereof.

Thereafter, the liner and container are ejected off the mandrel by air or the like whereby the desired product can be disposed in the opened end of the bag-like liner, the open end of the bag-like liner being sealed closed and the top flaps of the surrounding container being closed over the closed top of the bag-like liner to provide a complete package construction.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, it has been found that the cardboard container need not completely cover all of the side walls or top and bottom walls of the bag-like liner so that a more economical package container construction is provided. This feature is accomplished by having the exposed walls of the baglike liner recessed inwardly from the edges of the cardboard container so that the cardboard container fully protects the bag-like liner even though the same is exposed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved container construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such a container construction or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for making such a container construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved container construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank structure for forming the container construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view illustrating the apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmenatry, perspective view illustrating one of the steps in the operation of the apparatus of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and illustrates another step in the operation.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating the open container construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 with the bag-like liner in its closed position.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates another container construction of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another blank structure of this invention for forming the container construction of FIGURE 9.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing a container construction for a food product or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide container constructions for other uses as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a flexible bag-like liner 21 being protected by a rigid board means 22 in a manner hereinafter described.

The bag-like liner 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape whereby the same has two pairs of opposed side walls 23, 24 and 25, 26 as well as opposed top and bottom walls 27 and 28.

The rigid board means 22 is so constructed and arranged that the same defines a pair of opposed side walls 29 and 30 superimposed on and secured to the opposed side walls 25 and 26 of the bag-like liner 21, the rigid board means 22 also defining bottom wall means 31 superimposed on and secured to the bottom wall 28 of the bag-like liner 21. The rigid board means 22 has a pair of overlapping top flaps 32 and 33 covering the top Wall 27 of the bag-like liner 21.

Therefore, it can be seen that in the container construction 20 of FIGURE 1, the opposed side walls 23 and 24 of the bag-like liner 21 are fully exposed. However, the rigid board means 22 is so constructed and arranged that the same extends beyond the side walls 23 and 24 of the bag-like liner 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 so that the peripheral edges 34 of the rigid board means 22 protect the bag-like liner 21 at the exposed surfaces 23 and 24 thereof when the container construction 20 is being stored, transported, and merchandised.

Therefore, it can be seen that the package construction 20 of this invention provides rigid board means 22 protecting the flexible bag-like linear means 21 thereof while the board means 22 is more economical than prior known container constructions because the same does not completely cover the bag-like linear means 21.

While the rigid board means 22 can be formed ofany suitable material the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings is formed from paperboard in a well known manner. In addition, the rigid board means 22 is provided in blank form as generally indicated by the reference numeral 35 in FIGURE 3. The blank 35 is substantially rectangular and has a plurality of transverse parallel scores 3'7, 38, 39 and 40 respectively defining the top flap 32, side wall 30, bottom wall 31, side wall 29 and top flap 33. r

In addition, the flexible bag-like liner 21 of this invention can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner. However, the embodiment illustrated in the drawings comprises a lamination of a layer of metallic foil 41 being secured to a porous paper backing material 42 by an interposed layer 43 of migratory waxlike material, such as microcrystalline wax or the like.

In this manner, the bag-like liner 21 is adapted to be formed from a flat sheet that is folded into the rectangular shape of FIGURE 1 whereby the seams, top and bottom thereof can be sealed closed by merely applying heat in the desired areas to the liner 21 to cause the waxlike material 43 to exude through the paper layer 42 to secure the overlapping areas of the liner 21 together whereby the product can be fluid sealed in the liner 21 with the metallic foil providing a moisture barrier completely around the product.

However, it is to be understood that other heat sealing means can be utilized to form the linear 21, such as wax paper, film of polyethylene, film of polyvinylchloride and the like.

The apparatus for forming the container construction of FIGURE 1 is generally indicated by the reference numeral 44 in FIGURES 4, and 6 and can comprise a well known apparatus modified in a manner hereinafter set forth.

In particular, the apparatus 44 can be of the well known type set forth on pages 4 and 5 of Bulletin No. 133 of the Pneumatic Scale Corporation Limited and entitled Automatic Packaging Machinery. This double package maker as set forth in the aforementioned publication comprises a structure 45 having a plurality of substantially rectangular mandrels 46 indexible through stations 47, 48, 49 and 50.

When each mandrel 46 is indexed to the station 47, suitable machinery 51 cuts a sheet of liner material from a roll thereof and wraps, folds and heat seals or glues that sheet of linear material into the open ended bag-like liner 21 illustrated in FIGURE 5.

As the mandrel 46 at station 47 is indexed from station 47 to station 48, other machinery 52 applies glue or other suitable adhesive 53 on the opposed side walls 25 and 26 as well as on the bottom wall 28 of the liner 21.

When that particular mandrel 46 is now disposed at station 48, other suitable machinery 54 takes a blank 35 of FIGURE 3 and folds the same onto the liner 21 on the mandrel 46 to complete the container construction as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The mandrel 46 is then indexed to station 49 and, subsequently to station 50 whereby the container construction 20 of FIGURE 6 is ejected from the particular mandrel 46 by a jet of air or mechanical means, the adhesive of the container construction 20 drying while being indexed between stations 48 and 50.

When the package is blown off the mandrel 46 at station 50, the same drops down onto a conveyor which will pass under a filling head wherein the product, such as coffee or the like, will be dropped into the container construction in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The filled container 20 would then move under a vacuum or gasing filling head wherein the liner 21 would have the top Wall 27 thereof heat sealed closed in a conventional manner as illustrated in FIGURE 8. The extending top flaps 32 and 33 of the rigid board means 22 would then be folded over in overlapping relation and secured together by a suitable adhesive or the like to complete the container construction 20 illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Therefore, it can be seen that the container construction 20 then will be ready for shipment or packaging whereby the rigid board means 22 fully protects the flexible liner means 21 even though the opposed side walls 23 and 24 of the liner 21 are exposed.

While one form of container construction has been illustrated in FIGURE 1, it is to be understood that other forms of container construction can be formed according to the teachings of this invention.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 9 wherein another container construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 51 and comprises a flexible bag-like liner 52 being protected by a rigid board means 53.

The bag-like liner 52 is shaped in rectangular forms in the same manner as the bag-like liner 21 previously described and comprises two pairs of opposed side wall means 54, 55 and 56, 57 as well as opposed top and bottom Wall means 58 and 59. The rigid board means 53 is folded around and secured to the bag-like liner 52 and has two pairs of opposed side wall means 60, 61 and 62, 63 respectively superimposed on and secured to the side walls 54, 55, 56 and 57 of the bag-like liner 52 whereby the top and bottom walls 58 and 59 of the liner 52 are fully exposed.

However, the exposed surfaces of the top and bottom walls 58 and 59 of the liner 52 are recessed relative to the top and bottom edges 64 of the rigid board means 53 so that the rigid board means 53 fully protects the bag-like liner 52 when the container construction 51 is stored, transported and merchandised in much the same manner as the container construction 20 previously described.

For example, see FIGURE 10 wherein the bottom wall 59 of the liner 52 is disposed above the bottom edge 64 of the rigid board means 53 for protection thereof.

If desired, the rigid board means 53 can comprise paperboard and the flexible liner 59 can compirse the lamination of a layer of metallic foil 41 being secured to a paper backing 42 by the migratory waxlike material 43 in the manner previously described.

The rigid board means 53 can be supplied from blanks 65 illustrated in FIGURE 11 wherein each blank 65 is substantially rectangular and has transverse parallel scores 66, 67, 68 and 69 formed thereon to respectively define side wall 60, side wall 62, side wall 61, side wall 63 and an interconnecting flap 70 which will be disposed against the inside surface of the side wall means 60 to form the tubular construction illustrated in FIGURE 9.

It can readily be seen that the container construction 51 of this invention can readily be formed on the apparatus 44 in the manner previously described whereby the resulting container construction will have the top and bottom walls 58 and 59 of the bag-like liner 52 exposed rather than the opposed side wall means of the liner of the container construction 20. However, it can be seen that the apparatus 44 will readily perform the container construction forming operation in the same manner as previously described.

While the end opening flaps of the liner are illustrated as being superimposed on the top thereof, such as in FIGURE 8, it is to be understood that the end flaps could be folded against the sides of the liner in the same manner that the bottom and flaps are folded as illustrated in FIGURE 8. Also, the bottom end flaps of the liner could be folded in the same manner as the top end flaps, if desired.

Therefore, this invention not only provides an improved container construction wherein the amount of rigid board means being utilized therefor is greatly reduced over the prior art, but also provides an improved method and apparatus for making such a container construction or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for making a container construction or the like comprising the steps of forming a flexible bag-like liner to enclose a product therein, and disposing and securing a rigid board means about said liner so that said board means has opening means therein exposing said liner, said board means being so disposed and secured that the exposed surface of said liner is spaced inwardly from the periphery of said opening means whereby said board means protects said liner.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of forming said liner from metallic foil.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of heat sealing said liner to itself to seal said product therein.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of forming said boardmeans from paperboard.-

5. A method for making a container construction or the like comprising the steps of forming a flexible bag-like liner to enclose a product therein, said liner being formed in a rectangular shape defining two pairs of opposed side walls and opposed top and bottom Walls, and disposing and securing a rigid board means about said liner so that said board means covers certain of said walls of said liner and exposes the remaining walls of said liner, said board means being so disposed and secured that the surfaces of the exposed walls of said liner are recessed inwardly from the edges of said board means whereby said board means protects said liner.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said board means forming step exposes said top and bottom walls of said liner.

7. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said board means forming step exposes one pair of opposed side walls of said liner.

8. Apparatus for making a container construction or the like comprising means for forming a flexible bag-like liner to enclose a product therein, and means for disposing and securing a rigid board means about said liner so that said board means has opening means therein exposing said liner, said last-named means disposing and securing said board means in such a manner that the exposed surface of said liner is spaced inwardly from the periphery of said opening means whereby said board means protects said liner.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said lastnamed means heat seals said liner to itself to seal said product therein.

10. Apparatus for making a container construction or the like comprising means for forming a flexible bag'like liner to enclose a product therein, said first-named means forming said liner into a rectangular shape defining two pairs of opposed side walls and opposed top and bottom walls, and means for disposing and securing rigid board means about said liner so that said board means covers certain of said walls of said liner and exposes the remaining walls of said liner, said last-named means disposing and securing said board means in such a manner that the surfaces of the exposed walls of said liner are recessed inwardly from the edges of said board means whereby said board means protects said liner.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said last-named means exposes said top and bottom walls of said liner.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said last-named means exposes one pair of opposed side walls of said liner.

BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD FOR MAKING A CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION OR THE LIKE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FORMING A FLEXIBLE BAG-LIKE LINEAR TO ENCLOSE A PRODUCT THEREIN, AND DISPOSING AND SECURING A RIGID BOARD MEANS ABOUT SAID LINEAR SO THAT SAID BOARD MEANS HAS OPENING MEANS THEREIN EXPOSING SAID LINER, SAID BOARD MEANS BEING SO DISPOSED AND SECURED THAT THE EXPOSED SURFACE OF SAID LINER IS SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OPENING MEANS WHEREBY SAID BOARD MEANS PROTECTS SAID LINER. 